At a glance

Walking through the beautiful hills and tea plantations of South India

South India offers an astonishing diversity of scenery, architecture and culture. This is a fascinating journey through India's tropical south, on foot and by boat. We visit the old Raj town of Munnar sitting below the towering rock face of Anamudi (2695m), Kerala's highest peak. Surrounded by hills carpeted with tea plantations, grassland and verdant forest, this is a walker's delight. From Munnar we trek for five days, traversing the Western Ghats to reach the striking Sri Meenakshi Temple at Madurai. The rest is much more relaxed and includes a backwater cruise by houseboat and the chance to sample the famous South Indian cuisine.

Walk profile

Daily distance in km/miles:

Day 4

8.0km/5.0miles

Day 5

8.0km/5.0miles

Day 6

16.0km/9.9miles

Day 7

7.0km/4.3miles

Day 8

16.0km/9.9miles

Number of days walking: 5

Pace: Moderate: 5-6km/3-4miles an hour

Terrain: Low altitude; good paths

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Cochin; sightseeing.

We arrive in Cochin and transfer to our hotel. Those clients not travelling on the group flight will make their own way to the hotel and will join us there. The evening is free for dinner and for you to relax after your journey.See more images and videos

2Day 2Into the hills at Munnar.

In the morning we drive away from the coastal plain to Munnar set amongst Kerala's highest mountains that form a jagged line due east of Cochin. The drive is about 160km and should take approximately 6 hours. Munnar is a beautiful hill station on the Western Ghats at about 1600m above sea level. It was once a summer resort of the British Government in south India. The town is situated at the confluence of the three mountain streams Mudrapauzha, Naliathanii and Kundala and is surrounded by lakes, reservoirs, forests and several tea estates. Anamudi (2695m), the highest peak in south India dominates the skyline and the many smaller peaks are a walker's paradise.See more images and videos

3Day 3Day walk in the hills of Munnar.

After an early breakfast we take a short drive through old Munnar and travel down to Nagarmudi, a tiny village, where we start our trek accompanied by a local guide. The walk begins with a gradual ascent through the tea plantations and then climbs into Seven Malai hills. Just before reaching the top we enjoy walking through cardamom and coffee plantations. Our hard work will be rewarded with spectacular views over Chittrapuram Dam, Changulam Lake, Annamudi Peak, Munnar and other local villages. We descend down the same route and meet our vehicle. There is an optional visit in the afternoon to a Tea museum.

A beautiful drive to the Silent Valley (1 hour), passing through some tea estates and plantations in a valley surrounded by hills. Our trek will start with a gradual climb from the tea estate to grassland. The first part of trek is gradual but becomes steeper as we leave the tea plantations behind. There are beautiful views all around, mostly of the tea estates, that give us a good feel for the area. After lunch in the forest we continue climbing and finally descend to our first camp, situated on a meadow by a stream, where we spend 2 nights. (5-6 hours walking, approx. 8km).See more images and videos

5Day 5Ascend towards Meesapulimala Peak, the highest in the area.

Today we have a half day walk to Meesapulimala Peak (2,630m), the second highest in south India (Anamudi is the highest but it is in a restricted area). From our camp, the trail ascends through rough grassland until we reach open ridges, which bring us to Meesapulima Peak. It will take us about 2 - 3 hours to reach to the top. From the top, which is also the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, there are breath-taking views all around. After a short break at the top we will descend to our camp for a late lunch and free afternoon (4 - 5hrs walking, approx. 8km).See more images and videos

6Day 6Trek through plantations and enjoy the magnificent surroundings enriched by red rhododendron.

Quite a long day today as we walk through an area of plantations enjoying the magnificent scenery enhanced by red Rhododendron. This plateau of the Western Ghats is home to many endemic species of flora and fauna, such as Atlas moth, wild goat and wild boar. We can spot some villages and lakes from the top, such as Allapetty, Kendaley Dam and Kundemalai Village. The walking is not hard and we ascend gradually in the morning and then descend in the afternoon back into the tea plantations and from there we gradually ascend to top station. Overnight at Top Station. (Approx. 6hrs walking, 16km).See more images and videos

We start our trek towards Nagamalai Coffee Plantation (Central Station) with a steep descent through lemon grass, including a short period of challenging terrain, with great views across the valley to the Kolukumalai Tea Plantation (known as the world's highest tea region). We continue descending to coffee plantations. Due to the price of coffee falling in the past few years the plantations and trails have become overgrown. From a distance we can see tribal village of Kezhmuttap. The government has settled these tribes of Mudhuvans here and given them small houses with electricity and almost all of them are working in nearby estates as labourers. The final stretch to reach camp is a steep climb (Approx 4/5hrs walking, 7km; 1-2 hrs if you take the shorter route).See more images and videos

8Day 8Explore the rich fertile area of Tamil Nadu.

The last day of walking is fairly easy as we descend through coffee plantations, dense forests and cotton plantations. We descend through Central Station Village and further down past Kotakuddi. At one point we pass a lovely waterfall where we stop for a rest to cool off our feet. Continuing on down we finally reach the rice paddies in the valley bottom. The final stretch of our trek takes us through coconut and mango plantations, which spreads over hundreds of acres of land. Today's walk is about 6 hours (approx. 16km) through the immensely rich and fertile land of Tamil Nadu. We finish our walk near the village of Mundhan, where our jeeps will meet us for a 15 minute drive to our last night's camp/hotel - this is subject to availability. (There is also the option today to go the shorter easier pony route that will take around 2hrs).See more images and videos

9Day 9To Madurai; visit the colourful Sri Meenakshi Temple.

Leaving Kerala behind we drive (2 - 2.5 hours) through the plains to the colourful temple town of Madurai, in Tamil Nadu. Madurai is one of the oldest and most fascinating cities in south India. The great Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar Temple, most of which was built during the Nayak period between the 16th and 18th centuries, is at the heart of the city and the life of the town revolves around it. It is a hive of activity and the scene of an almost continuous religious festival. Worshippers bathe in the tank of the Golden Lily and throng the Hall of a Thousand Pillars, where each one is uniquely carved. Madurai is a perfect place to wander around and experience Hindu culture.

Leaving Madurai in the morning we drive to the small village of Thekkady. The drive is spectacular as the road climbs through the Western Ghats and we have fantastic views across Tamil Nadu. Thekkady is a small bustling village from where we visit the Periyar National Park. This whole area is a centre for spice growing and after lunch there will be a short walk around a spice garden, where we can see many different spices growing. There is plenty of time in the afternoon to explore the bazaar, where we can visit the numerous shops selling cardamoms, vanilla, peppercorns, chillies, turmeric and other spices.
(4-4.5hrs drive).See more images and videos

The Periyar National Park is one of the largest in south India and is set around a large man made lake. In the early morning we will have a short trek for 2 - 3 hrs in the surrounding nearby forest and in afternoon an optional boat trip and cruise on the lake (tickets for these cruises are only available on a first-come, first-served basis and can't be organised in advance). This is an ideal opportunity to spot birds and occasionally we may spot an elephant, otters, wild pig and buffalo. There is an abundance of bird life - kingfishers, storks and hornbills are the most commonly spotted. There is also the opportunity of an Ayurvedic massage (optional), which can be arranged in the nearby Ayurvedic massage centre.See more images and videos

Today we begin by transferring to Allepey on the coast. We board our houseboats and begin our cruise along the backwaters of Kerala. The houseboat cruise is one of the highlights of the trip - these enchanting houseboats, built of Anjili wood and bamboo, were the traditional method of transporting of goods for hundreds of years. Now they have been decorated and made into comfortable cruise boats. The network of rivers, streams, lagoons and canals occupies the alluvial plain between the Western Ghats and the Indian Ocean. As our boat meanders through areas of lush tropical vegetation we have the opportunity to view not only the prolific bird life but also gain a differing perspective on village life. All the houseboats are comfortably equipped and have twin bedded rooms with bathroom.
There is a cook and boat driver and assistants for each boat and the food served is traditional Keralan fare using local produce. No trip to Kerala would be complete without the wonderful experience of the backwaters aboard these traditional Keralite vessels. We stay overnight in the middle of the famous Vembanad Lake.

After a relaxing breakfast on the houseboats we will disembark and drive along the scenic Malabar Coast to the Coir Village Resort at Trikunnupazha. We stay the night in the resort here, which is situated alone in a beautiful setting on the banks of the backwater canals, surrounded by coconut palms and rice paddies. Later we will have the chance to explore the surrounding villages and gain an insight into traditional village life.See more images and videos

We head back to Cochin and during the afternoon there will be a guided tour; this will include Mattancherry Palace built by the Portuguese as a gift for the Raja of Cochin, the Jewish synagogue dating from 1568 and St Francis church. We also explore the town of Cochin, its bazaars and old harbour area. There are plenty of shopping opportunities here. Fort Cochin is believed to be the earliest European settlement in India, and was founded by the Portuguese in 1503. Warehouses filled with the smell of tea and spices are lime-washed bright green, yellow and blue; rickety old bikes and hand-painted trucks, piled high with goods fill the narrow streets and food stalls stand on every corner. Further along the road you come to Mattancherry and the Dutch Palace (closed on Fridays). Next to the Palace is the synagogue (closed on Fridays and Saturdays), built in 1568 for the Jewish members of Cochin's trading communities. The area around the synagogue is excellent for shopping. For eating, you should try the fish market near the Chinese fishing nets, where you can buy the day's catch and have it cooked to your own taste. Most people choose to stay in Fort Cochin and wander around its fascinating streets. In the evening there is the chance for an optional visit to see a display of Kathakali Dancing, a form of dance unique to Kerala.See more images and videos

15Day 15End Cochin.

If you are on the group flights you will have an early morning transfer to the airport for the flight back to London. Those not flying with the group will leave us at the hotel in CochinSee more images and videos

Your images

Adult Group

This is a small group adult holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You are moderately fit and possess a spirit of adventure. Some previous experience is required for most activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request)

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Hotels, Camping & Houseboat

You will spend 8 nights in hotels with en suite facilities, 5 nights in full service camps and 1 night on a houseboat. House boat cabins are comfortable with toilet facilities and there are communal dining areas. While camping, you will be provided with mattresses, a dining tent, kitchen tent, toilet tents and camping chairs.

Single supplements are available from £245.

Essential info

Vaccinations and VisaHoliday style

Although this is basically not a demanding tour, it is a busy and active itinerary with lots to see. Driving time is kept to minimum and the roads are generally pretty good, but local traffic and/or road damage can sometimes slow us down.
Walking Conditions
This is a moderate trek but at quite low altitude. Most days are not overly taxing (apart from day 8 when there is the option for an easy walk) and most of the trails are on well made reasonable paths but are steep in places. Daytime temperatures can be very hot in the middle of the day and the sun is very strong. Nights will be cooler and 3 nights of the trek can be very cold with temperatures just below freezing. This trek is suitable for the average walker who is prepared to put in some physical preparation. 5 days walking with full porterage plus 2-3 other shorter walks. Grade 3.

Eating & drinking

Breakfast is included throughout the trip except on Day 1 as you should be given breakfast on the flight. It is full board on trek (5 days) and on the houseboat (1 day). You should allow at least GBP12 (approx. . USD19.20) per day for lunch and dinner when not included. You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more expensive restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the suggested amount. In most of the towns there is a good choice of restaurants and a choice between Indian and Western style food. If you are a vegetarian, India is probably one of the best destinations to travel to. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large!) bottle of beer is approx. GBP3 (approx. . USD4.80). Mineral water is widely available. Please note that service in restaurants can be quite slow. All meals are included on the houseboat.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

The most important feature of the Indian climate is the 'wet season' or monsoon. The main monsoon strikes the coast of Kerala in late May and sweeps its way northward over the next month or so. The ideal time to visit is during the dry season from late November to March. Days will be hot and the nights warm, the average range of maximum daytime temperatures being between 21 and 30degC and from -2 to 20degC at night. However, in the hills and on trek temperatures can be considerably cooler and although the days on trek will be hot you can expect temperatures to drop to a few degrees above 0degC or just below at night for 3 nights on trek. We ask you to note that frequent rainstorms can be expected throughout the tour on November departures. The storms are usually of quite short duration, but have been known to be persistent as well. This can mean that campsites can sometimes be affected by these adverse weather conditions.

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Reviews & community

Beautiful, wonderful place and a very well organised holiday with a great combination of trekking and culture. Helps if you like camping!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. Kathakali dancing. Walking in the Western Ghats. Cows with painted horns in Tamil Nadu. And just the life on the streets as we drove through towns and villages - good humoured, colourful, traditional and modern at once.

What did you think of your group leader?

Santosh was a great group leader and a good companion. Intelligent, enthusiastic, organised and fun. He is an asset to his country and to the organisations he works with.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

The grading is fair at grade 3 as the hiking challenges are not sustained. Be prepared for walking uphill in the heat and downhill on rough paths that were hard on some folks' knees.
Camping is not my thing so I didn't expect to enjoy that aspect. However, I do think the camping could be made more comfortable:
&gt;Squatting is difficult in trousers and toilet tents in the dark are a nightmare I will avoid in future (remember to bring a head torch) - is there a better solution?
&gt;The tents were old fashioned, didn't close properly, were too cosy for two and had no cover sheet on the veranda for bags and shoes. Better tents would help.
&gt;Instead of providing a basin of water to hunker over in your tiny shared tent, it should be possible to set up some ad hoc showers on one or two nights.
&gt;You need a 4 season sleeping bag in January. It dropped to -2c on one night and few of us slept.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The staff on trek and throughout were charming and helpful. The food was delicious everywhere we stayed. The group was lovely.
Apart from the camping (the pain of which I forgot as soon as it ended!) the whole holiday was one treat after another. I even enjoyed our coach trips, to my surprise, because there was so much to see.

We had a delightful time in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, an extremely competent and enjoyable local leader, very good accommodation, food and transport. Our itinerary was changed due to adverse weather conditions with the complete agreement of the group and excellent management of the leader. We found, however, that the hiking paths were not well formed and not "moderate", but rather steeper than expected and less through spice growing areas than through tea growing areas, but breath taking anyway.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Interactions with the locals

What did you think of your group leader?

A superb itinerary - well thought out &amp; executed. Never a dull moment.
The food provided throughout the trip was fantastic - you need to be a fan of curry though!
The local communities are genuinely friendly and welcoming.
The trip allowed for personal preference to be taken into consideration.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Some of the mountain landscape views on the trekking portion of the trip. It is a wonderful country with breathtaking views.

What did you think of your group leader?

Marvellous - absolutely faultless in judgement, communication and local knowledge.
Tour guides do not come any better than this.
Perfect.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

It rains. Even at the tale end of the wet season there is plenty of precipitation and grey skies. Take adequate water proof clothing and some warm clothes for the cool evenings in the mountains.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The tents need to be updated as a matter of urgency - they leak and show many signs of wear and tear.

From Tansen in the west of Nepal, Niraj spent 10 years working as a tour leader in Nepal, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and India before joining his family in the UK. The desire to stay within the travel circle brought Niraj to Exodus. Turning from an outdoor tour guide to a 9 to 5 office man was certainly a 'culture shock', but working with colleagues who share the same passion for adventure travel makes him feel right at home - pictures of the Himalayas on his desk also help! Niraj looks after the operations for all our Indian and Sri Lankan adventures.

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

Can I catch a Bollywood movie?!

Fancy a night out in India just like the locals? Head to a Bollywood movie and join the local in an evening packed with entertainment. The Bollywood masala movies are a mixture of dance, drama and musical with a break in between as most of these are lengthy 3 hours movies. This gives you the option to leave the theatre should you want to do that! The songs and dances make it like a 60’s musical where you could have the whole locals singing and dancing to the tune. Some movies become hits only because of these. Movie theatres that you may want to visit are; Raj Mandir in Jaipur, Odeon in Canaught Place, New Delhi, Filmistan, Karol Bagh in New Delhi - but all cities have theatres. A word of warning- try to avoid the rush when entering and exiting the theatre and the crowded area and keep valuables with close to you zipped at all times and enjoy the show.

Niraj Chand Shrestha - Customer Operations

Any good shopping tips for India?

Where do you start?! Half the joy of shopping in India is the sheer scale of what's on offer, from upscale boutiques in New Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta to the crowded and sweaty markets of pretty much any town or village you come to. Handicrafts, art, leather goods, spices, hand carved statues, silk, the list goes on - all the way to cheap knock offs of western brands!

Remember, outside of the proper shops, haggling is the key but don't waste your time trying to split the difference over a few pence - the best result is when everyone comes away happy!

Charlotte Taylor - India Operations

What is the best way to take money to India?

Any time I go out, I normally just take sterling cash which, as long as you excercise the normal degree of common sense you would at home, is safe and easy. The India rupee is a closed currency, meaning you can only get it upon arrival in the country. There are exchange facilities at all arrival airports, and ATMs are available pretty much everywhere as well in case you need to top up along the way.

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Are walking poles necessary for Indian treks?

Although not strictly necessary, some people do like to take them along as they can be useful, especially on the descents. However, remember to pack them in your hold luggage.

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Do you have any advice about malaria and rabies?

Unfortunately we are not qualified to answer all your questions in regards to travel health, so we strongly recommend you contact your GP or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information.

Nomad Travel Clinics are experts in preparing people for travel, providing advice on vaccinations, anti-malarial and staying healthy whilst overseas. We have arranged a special 10% discount for Exodus passengers on any vaccinations that you may require! Take along your Nomad discount card, sent with your confirmation pack, or call Exodus for your special discount code.Visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/exodus for further information.

I've heard the 'Delhi Belly' rumours in India -will this be a problem?

India has delicious food to cater for all preferences but, like anywhere in the world, hygiene is important. Keeping your hands well washed before eating, staying as hydrated as possible and sticking to bottled water is the best protection against an upset tum. Otherwise, mashed potato is apparently a good cure!

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Is it possible to get visas upon arrival?

No. Indian visas must be pre-arranged in advance. Check the Indian embassy website for details.

Land of the Tiger articles

Caroline Northcott, one of our clients, travelled on this trip a few years ago. Please read her inspirational article to get a personal viewpoint of the holiday.

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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